Several new results have been achieved in the last few years in the study of western Tethyan Paleogene larger Foraminifera. These are the elaboration of the detailed stratigraphic subdivision of Eocene Heterosteginae, Spiroclypei and that of the Nummulites fabianii-group based on morphometric investigations, new results on Turkish and Hungarian orthophragmines, timing of larger Foraminiferal events around the Middle/Late Eocene boundary and the discovery of the stratigraphic significance of Oligocene Nummulitidae. They give an opportunity to broaden the impact of the larger Foraminiferal zonation eastward of the Alpine-Pyrenean realm and also towards the deeper part of the photic zone. This latter also enables widespread correlation with planktic zonations. 80% of the samples are already available to accomplish the necessary tasks, although part of them is still to be published or to be elaborated. The sampling and study of the Turkish Paleogene material will be executed in bilateral co-operation while the collection of the Armenian Eocene and West European Oligocene material is planned in the frame of this project. The partial tasks of the synthesis, formulated in the title of the project, are the updating of the Paleocene–Eocene orthophragminid zonation, the morphometric estimate of the stratigraphic potential of the Nummulites perforatus- and N. millecaput-groups and the taxonomical and stratigraphical revision of Oligocene Nummulites. Concerning the Eocene, the further partial tasks are to elucidate the relationship between the first appearance of the Operculina gomezi-group and the Lutetian/Bartonian boundary and (if time permits) to evaluate the stratigraphic potential of the Assilina alpina-group. Regarding the Oligocene, we would like to elucidate the stratigraphic potential of Nummulitidae with secondary chamberlets (“Operculina” heterostegina, Heterosteginae and Spiroclypei) and also that of the Eulepidinae (optional).

The impact of the Western Tethyan Paleogene and Early Miocene larger foraminiferal (= giant uni-cellulars) zonation (validated mostly for Europe so far) has been extended to Turkey and the N Caucasus. During this ages of several sites have been revised. An increasing Indo-Pacific influence was recognized in the late Early Miocene caused by the gradual narrowing and shallowing of the Tethyan Seaway connecting the Western and Eastern Tethys. The European orthophragmine zonation has been refined, the late Middle and the Late Eocene have been subdivided in more detail based on Heterostegina. Larger foraminiferal zones around the Early/Middle Eocene boundary have been correlated with planktonic ones in a sequence from the N Caucasus. The superposition of some Oligo-Miocene larger foraminiferal zones has been proven directly in the field.